Antonio Jiménez Sistachs
Encyclopedia
Antonio Jiménez Sistachs (born 12 October 1970 in La Garriga, Barcelona, Catalonia
), sometimes just Toni, is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
's third team
, Jiménez made his professional debuts with Catalonia
neighbours UE Figueres
, being backup then first-choice in a couple of second division
seasons.
In 1992, he moved to Rayo Vallecano
, initially as backup to Nigeria
n Wilfred Agbonavbare
; however, he benefitted from an injury his "competitor" in the second round, and made his top flight
debut against CD Logroñés
, although he finished the season in the bench again.
The following year, Toni accompanied coach José Antonio Camacho
to RCD Espanyol
, then in the second level. He was an undisputed starter during his spell at the club, winning the Ricardo Zamora Trophy
in his first season, qualifying for the UEFA Cup immediately afterwards, and amassing nearly 300 overall official appearances.
Jiménez signed for Atlético Madrid in 1999, being highly unsuccessful there during three years: Barred by José Francisco Molina
in his first season, the capital
side were also relegated; furthermore, in that year's Copa del Rey
final, against former side Espanyol, he was stripped off the ball by former teammate Raúl Tamudo
's head, for the final 1–2.
Toni again regained first-choice status at Elche CF
, but returned to the main division and Espanyol in January 2003, when new boss Javier Clemente
requested his signing. At the end of the following season, he retired from the game, at almost 34. He stayed connected with the club in directorial capacities, leaving in March 2006, when director of football
Cristóbal Parralo
also resigned.
Jiménez served his first coaching spell also in Catalonia, as assistant in Girona FC
. In May 2009, he returned to the club, as goalkeeper's coach, and, two years later, signed with main club Espanyol, as assistant to Mauricio Pochettino
.
, in local Barcelona
. He beat competition from Santiago Cañizares
, until then the starter, and played all the matches and minutes en route to the gold medal.
Toni gained three additional caps for the full squad
during one year, his first one being offered by Camacho, a friendly with Italy
, on 18 November 1998 (2–2, in Salerno
). He seemed poised to be called as third-choice for UEFA Euro 2000, but 19-year old Iker Casillas
was chosen instead.
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
), sometimes just Toni, is a retired Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Club career
After a brief stint with local giants FC BarcelonaFC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
's third team
FC Barcelona C
Fútbol Club Barcelona C was a Spanish football team that folded on 2 July 2007. The youth team of FC Barcelona, it played home games at the Mini Estadi....
, Jiménez made his professional debuts with Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
neighbours UE Figueres
UE Figueres
Unió Esportiva Figueres is a Spanish football team based in Figueres, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1919 and refounded in 2007, it plays in Primera Catalana, holding home matches at Estadio Municipal de Vilatenim, with a seating capacity of 9,472.-History:Figueres was first...
, being backup then first-choice in a couple of second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
seasons.
In 1992, he moved to Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas...
, initially as backup to Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n Wilfred Agbonavbare
Wilfred Agbonavbare
Wilfred Agbonavbare is a retired Nigerian footballer. He played as a goalkeeper.-Career:Agbonavbare played for the Spanish football clubs Rayo Vallecano and Écija Balompié ....
; however, he benefitted from an injury his "competitor" in the second round, and made his top flight
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
debut against CD Logroñés
CD Logroñés
Club Deportivo Logroñés, S.A.D. was a Spanish football team based in Logroño, in the autonomous community of La Rioja. Founded in 1940, it last played in Regional Preferente de La Rioja....
, although he finished the season in the bench again.
The following year, Toni accompanied coach José Antonio Camacho
José Antonio Camacho
José Antonio Camacho Alfaro is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a left defender, and the current coach of the China PR national football team....
to RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
, then in the second level. He was an undisputed starter during his spell at the club, winning the Ricardo Zamora Trophy
Ricardo Zamora Trophy
The Ricardo Zamora Trophy is a football award, established by Spanish newspaper MARCA in 1958. The award goes to the goalkeeper who has the lowest "goals-to-games" ratio. It is named after legendary Spanish goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora....
in his first season, qualifying for the UEFA Cup immediately afterwards, and amassing nearly 300 overall official appearances.
Jiménez signed for Atlético Madrid in 1999, being highly unsuccessful there during three years: Barred by José Francisco Molina
José Francisco Molina
José Francisco Molina Jiménez is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.11 years of his extensive professional career were spent at Atlético Madrid and Deportivo de La Coruña, where he won a total of five titles combined...
in his first season, the capital
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
side were also relegated; furthermore, in that year's Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
final, against former side Espanyol, he was stripped off the ball by former teammate Raúl Tamudo
Raúl Tamudo
Raúl Tamudo Montero is a Spanish footballer who currently plays for Rayo Vallecano as a striker....
's head, for the final 1–2.
Toni again regained first-choice status at Elche CF
Elche CF
Elche Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Elche, Alicante, in the Valencian Community. Founded in 1923, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, holding home matches at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, with a capacity of 38,750 seats.-Recent seasons:-Season to...
, but returned to the main division and Espanyol in January 2003, when new boss Javier Clemente
Javier Clemente
Javier Clemente Lázaro, is a Spanish football manager. The veteran La Liga manager has spent most of his career at two clubs: Athletic Bilbao and RCD Espanyol. Between 1992 and 1998, he managed Spain and went 31 games unbeaten. He was also the the first foreign manager of Serbia. His most recent...
requested his signing. At the end of the following season, he retired from the game, at almost 34. He stayed connected with the club in directorial capacities, leaving in March 2006, when director of football
Director of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
Cristóbal Parralo
Cristóbal Parralo
Cristóbal Parralo Aguilera, simply Cristóbal , is a retired Spanish footballer and a current manager.A defender, he played mainly in the right flank, but could also appear in the middle.-Playing career:...
also resigned.
Jiménez served his first coaching spell also in Catalonia, as assistant in Girona FC
Girona FC
Girona Futbol Club, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Girona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1930, it plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadi Montilivi, which has a capacity of 10,000....
. In May 2009, he returned to the club, as goalkeeper's coach, and, two years later, signed with main club Espanyol, as assistant to Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Roberto Pochettino Trossero is a retired Argentine footballer who played as a central defender, and the current coach of RCD Espanyol.-Club career:...
.
International career
Jiménez had not yet played top level football when he was summoned by coach Vicente Miera to the 1992 Summer Olympics1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, in local Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. He beat competition from Santiago Cañizares
Santiago Cañizares
José Santiago Cañizares Ruiz is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.After playing with Real Madrid, mostly as a backup, he finished his career at Valencia CF, where he appeared in more than 400 official games since 1998.In his prime, he was regarded as one of the best...
, until then the starter, and played all the matches and minutes en route to the gold medal.
Toni gained three additional caps for the full squad
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
during one year, his first one being offered by Camacho, a friendly with Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
, on 18 November 1998 (2–2, in Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
). He seemed poised to be called as third-choice for UEFA Euro 2000, but 19-year old Iker Casillas
Íker Casillas
Iker Casillas Fernández is a Spanish football goalkeeper who plays for the Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, being the captain of both...
was chosen instead.
Club
- Second DivisionSegunda DivisiónThe Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
: 1993–94 - Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: Runner-up 1999–2000
Country
- Summer OlympicsSummer Olympic GamesThe Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
: 1992
Individual
- Zamora TrophyRicardo Zamora TrophyThe Ricardo Zamora Trophy is a football award, established by Spanish newspaper MARCA in 1958. The award goes to the goalkeeper who has the lowest "goals-to-games" ratio. It is named after legendary Spanish goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora....
: 1993–94, 1997–98